Pitter Patter Pathways

I started my daycare in 2004, and watch children birth through five years. I have two of my own grown children, two step children, and one grandson.

My program is nationally accredited through NAFCC, 3 Star QRS rating, and licensed through the State of Illinois. I am a member of Little Hands Network of childcare providers. I also manage an Early Childhood Toys group site where we buy and sell used toys.

I believe that children need to learn more than ABC's and 123's. In my program children learn independence, respect, responsibility, exploration, and practical life skills.

The goals of my program focus on four areas of child development:
1. Social/emotional: to help children develop independence, self-confidence, and self-control, follow rules and routines, make friends, and learn what it means to be a member of a group.
2. Physical: to increase children's large muscle skills-balancing, running, jumping, throwing and catching-and use the small muscles in their hands to do tasks like buttoning, stringing beads, cutting, drawing, and writing.
3. Cognitive: to acquire thinking skills such as the ability to solve problems, to ask questions, and to think logically-sorting, classifying, comparing, counting, and making patterns-and to use materials and their imagination to show what they have learned.
4. Language: to use words to communicate with others, listen to and participate in conversations with others, understand the purpose of print, recognize letters and words, and begin writing for a purpose.

We want children to become independent, self-confident, curious learners who can work well with others. We are teaching them HOW to learn, not just in preschool, but all through their lives. We do this by creating purposeful and productive play experiences that help children grow in all areas. Through the activities we plan and the way we organize the classroom, select toys and materials, plan the daily schedule, and talk with children, we seek to accomplish the goals of our curriculum and give your child a successful start in school.

I look forward to meeting you!
Please contact me by email at kristinebeard@yahoo.com with any questions.